Razor blade sharpening fixture



Dec. 8, 1936. F. E. DARE RAZOR BLADE SHARPENING FIXTURE Filed May 20, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet l nvenlor Dec. s, 1936,.

F. E. DARE f RZOR BLADE SHARPENING FIXTURE Filed May 20, 193e 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 [nuenlor Ware Patented Dec. 8, 1936 UNITED STATS PATENT GFFICE 1 Claim.

My invention relates generally to means for sharpening safety razor blades, and particularly to a device of this kind in the form of a fixture adapted to be mounted on a wall or other convenient place as in a bathroom, so that the device will not only be adequately supported for eflicient operation, but will be conveniently located for sharpening the blades at the place where they are used, and an important object of the invention is to provide a simple, efficient,

and mechanically excellent device of this character.

Another important object of the invention is to provide novel means for rotatably supporting the safety razor blades as the edges thereof are applied to the sharpening surfaces.

Other important objects of my invention will be apparent from a reading of the following description in connection with the drawings,

wherein for purposes of illustration I have shown a preferred embodiment of my invention.

In the drawings:-

Figure 1 is a general side elevational view of the embodiment showing the same mounted to a wall.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken through Figure l.

Figure 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken approximately on the line 3 3 in Figure 1 and looking toward the left.

Figure 4 is a transverse vertical sectional View taken through the front end of the rotor shaft and showing the front end of the rotor in elevation.

Figure 5 is -a transverse vertical sectional view taken through Figure 4 approximately on the line 5-5.

Figure 6 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken through the left hand part of the sharpening cylinder and showing the mounting plate removed.

Figure 7 is a plan view of the mounting plate.

Figure 8 is a plan View of a portion of the front cover.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral 5 generally designates the mounting plate which may be circular in form and provided with a circular circumferential lateral flange 6 which has at its longitudinal outer edge the radially inwardly turned anges l arranged to engage in front of the circumferentially spaced lugs 8 on the sharpening cylinder which is generally designated 9. The flanges or projections 'I are placed in front of the lugs 8 by first causing the lugs 3 to pass into the space between the flanges l, and then rotating the mounting plate until the flanges l are 'in front of the lugs 8.

The sharpening cylinder which is generally designated 9 is generally tapering in form, hav- 5 ing its large end forwardly, the cylinder being formed of glass or other equivalent material and having a substantially smooth interior having a taper conforming to the taper of the exterior of the cylinder. Of course, the exterior of the 10 cylinder need not conform to the taper of the bore thereof, it being sufficient that the bore have the approximate taper indicated in the drawings.

The axially outward end of the sharpening 15 cylinder S is provided with circumferentially spaced lugs I0 after the manner of the lugs 8, to be engaged by radially inwardly projecting flanges II on the rim I2 of the cover which is generally designated I3.

Journaled in the approximate center of the cover I3 is the rotary shaft Hl which has at its axially outward end the crank I5 provided with the operating handle I 6.

The shaft I 4 passes axially inwardly of the 25 cover I3 and through a spacer Il which engages the front end of the blade carrying rotor which is generally designated I8 and which comprises two right angularly disposed and intersecting U-shaped members I9 and 20, respectively, which 30 are centrally mounted on the shaft I4 as indicated in Figure 3 with the legs of the U-shaped members lying in planes paralleling the side walls of the bore of the sharpening cylinder and being of relatively flexible metal.

The axially outward ends of these arms are return bent as indicated by the numerals I9 and 20, which bends terminate in radially inwardly extending arms 2| and 22 which lie behind the circular plate 23 to which they are fastened in 40 some suitable manner as by soldering indicated by the numeral 24 in Figure 5. The shaft I4 traverses the plate or disk 23 and has its rear end fastened as indicated by the numeral 25 to the intersection of the bight portions of the 45 U-shaped members I9 and 20, whereby the rotor is flxedly mounted on the shaft I4.

Razor blade holding clips 26 are L-shaped in form and have radially inwardly extending arm portions 21 lying along the bight portions of the 50 respective members I9 and 2U and soldered or otherwise fastened thereto; and longitudinal portions 28 lying along the respective arms of the members I 9 and 20 and having their axially outward end portions hairpin bent as indicated 55 by the numeral 29 in Figure 5 and soldered in place by the soldering 24 as shown in Figure 4. 'Ihe longitudinal portion 28 has some tension toward the respective leg of the corresponding member I9 or 20, but is at the same time spaced from this portion, whereby means is provided for receiving and frictionally clamping between the portion 28 and the corresponding leg of the member I9, a razor blade 30 which thereby has its opposite edges extending in opposite circumferential directions to engage the bore of the sharpening cylinder in the manner indicated in Figure 3. The blades are su'iciently securely held for the sharpening operations, but may be readily removed from the rotor by slipping the same out of place.

It is believed obvious from the arrangements described and set forth in the drawings that the cover I3 rotatably carries the rotor within the cylinder and that access to the rotor can only be had through removing the cover I3 from the outer open end of the sharpening cylinder, the inner end of the sharpening cylinder being closed as indicated by the numeral 3| With the device mounted on a wall or other supporting surface by means of the mounting plate 5, the device is suiciently sefcurely held to enable vigorous operation of the hand crank for proper sharpening of the razor blades, and only one hand is required for the operation. It is also obvious that the razor blades may be inverted or reversed to obtain proper sharpening of opposite sides of the edges thereof, and that four blades may be simultaneously sharpened to the same degree.

It is obvious that the shaft I4 and hence the rotor I8 is prevented by the sleeve I'I from moving or being moved axially outwardly beyond the point shown in Figure 2. However, the

shaft I4 and hence the rotor 8 may be moved axially inwardly of this point for the purpose of applying the edges of the safety razor blades on the rotor and being sharpened to different; parts of the interior surface of the sharpening cylinder, so as to obtain different sharpening effects, due in part to the tapering of the bore of the sharpening cylinder.

Although I have shown and described herein preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be definitely understood that I do not desire to limit the application of the invention thereto, and any change or changes may be made in the materials, and in the structure and arrangement of the parts, within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the subjoined claim.

What is claimed is:-

A device of the character described comprising a hollow sharpening cylinder, a safety razor blade carrying rotor supported axially in said cylinder, and manual means for rotating said rotor to apply the edges of the blades to the Walls of said cylinder, the axially outward end of said cylinder being open, a removable cover on the open end, said cover rotatably supporting said rotor and said rotor embodying blade holding means comprising a plurality of U-shaped members having their intermediate portions secured in crossed relation and their parallel arm portions disposed longitudinally of the cylinder, each blade holder being formed of laminated strips of material between which the blades are positioned and frictionally retained with the edges of the blade projecting beyondr the edges of the holder, a disc on the rotor and means for securing the ends of the strip to said disc.

FRANKLIN E. DARE. 

